#buildayogaBOOty Instagram Challenge with Chickadee Says!

Hello Darlings!

If you follow Chickadee Says on Facebook or take a peek at the questions I leave at the end of my yoga posts here on the blog, you might have noticed that I love to know what all of you are looking for in terms of yoga. Generally speaking I fashion a “5 Yoga Poses for ________” post in response. However, one of my most requested posts is for poses to shape, lift, and build your yoga booty!

Yoga Poses For Headache Relief

Hello Darlings!

Now, I don’t know if it is the season changing (grumble) or Denver’s rather erratic weather, but my allergies (which, I rarely get thanks to these tips- yep, tooting my own horn) are out of control this fall. And along with the itchy eyes, sniffle-y nose, and over all rather surly demeanor, I have been getting headaches like it is nobody’s business. Now generally speaking, I have a number of remedies I use for headaches- my favorite is Traumeel (yay holistic medicine!) but my box of headache helpers tends to stay in my medicine cabinet. So, when I felt a migraine coming on when I was teaching at the studio I pulled out some yoga moves and the headache subsided!

What I Ate Wednesday: California Tripping

Hello Darlings!

This past weekend I had a ball out in San Francisco and San Jose California with a couple of friends from my Boston College and high school days- both of which I hadn’t seen in ages! As it goes on pretty much any vacation, I ate really well. And while I could have been a bit better at snapping all of my meals, I have quite a few delicious pictures to show you- so I will let them speak for themselves.

Picture Sharing Made Easy: The Seahorse App

Hello Darlings!

Being Twenty-Six I feel like every time I scroll down my Facebook feed I spot another engagement, and another wedding hashtag so you can follow the images that are posted on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. I know from experience that trying to save all of the pictures so that they are in a central location and available for everyone to use is a huge hassle. Insert Seahorse.

Barre 3: Beautiful and Brutal (In the Best Way Possible!)

Hello Darlings!

I had always been curious about taking Barre classes. They sounded like fun, but for me if I am going to go workout, I want to get my butt kicked, and I (very wrongly) assumed that Barre classes were more pretty than functional. Oh, how wrong I was.

Now I know I shouldn’t have assumed that classes at Barre 3 wouldn’t be difficult because, quite frankly, many think the same thing about yoga, and I happen to pass the Barre 3 Denver location as I drive to teach each week. But alas, after Barre 3 reached out and offered to set me up with a class pack and a subscription to their online classes I thought, why not?

Yoga Poses for Lower Back Pain

Hello Darlings!

In each of the yoga classes I teach I really try to focus on bringing balance to both the front and back sides of our bodies. So often we tend to ignore what we can’t see, and thus even in a yoga class we breathe only to fill our chests and bellies, not the back sides of our ribs. Or when we engage our abs we tighten up that ‘six pack’ and ignore the corset of muscles that circles the backside of our torsos as well. We hold children, sit at a desk typing, cook, and so many other tings using the muscles in the front side of our body and that leads to a bit of back pain if we don’t regularly work and stretch our backs as well.

Meatless Monday: Vegan Pumpkin Pie Chia Seed Pudding

Hello Darlings!

So, I’ve said a few times that I am very much so a summer baby, sunshine and hot weather all day everyday, thank you! But I do enjoy autumn as well, even if it is paving the way for winter (brrrr..). One of my favorite things to embrace during autumn is the array of delicious belly-warming flavors, especially pumpkin and the spices that go along with it!

My Pumpkin Pie Chia Seed Pudding is a decadent breakfast (or dessert!) that is full of nutritious ingredients (read: good for you) and incredibly easy to make, whether you’re concocting two jars or ten! I love being able to pop open the fridge, have breakfast ready to go, and getting to savor the spicy flavors of fall each morning!

Fiber Choice Get Picky Challenge: My Thoughts (& Join Me!)

Hello Darlings!

For the past 30 days I have been taking part in the Fiber Choice Get Picky Challenge, a fun way to see if adding fiber (or changing the way you consume it) is right for you and your body.  If you’ve been reading Chickadee Says for a while you might know that I am very particular when it comes to what I put in my body so when I decided to add a fiber supplement I knew it had to be something special.

Meatless Monday: Sautéed Tomato and Herb Summer Salad

Hello Darlings!

I am clinging to summer with two (very tight) fists. While hiking this weekend I noticed the leaves starting to fade into autumn’s very beautiful colors yet I kept telling the colors to “go away.” Seriously, my hiking companions must have thought I was crazy, but alas, I’m a summer girl. So with that being said I absolutely love the tastes of summer, the gorgeous colors of ripening tomatoes, the fresh tastes of herbs, and the deep greens of kale and spinach. So I’ve added them all together and created a Sautéed Tomato and Herb Summer Salad, which is tasty now and is sure to keep your belly happy in the upcoming fall months.

Mars Healthy Living: Five Quick Swaps for a Healthier You

Hello Darlings!

For the past few months I have had the opportunity to guest post over on the MARS Healthy Living Blog! After posting about how Balance is Key and Fun Ways to Exercise with Your Children, I’ve rounded out my three-post guest run with Five Quick Swaps for a Healthier You.

Yoga Poses for Hikers

Hello Darlings!

Summer is in full swing here in Colorado. And I know the nights are starting to get a little cooler, but that’s perfect for someone who loves the heat but happens to have a puppy dog who was bred to drags sleds through the snow. Essentially now the weather is a more conducive to hiking, and with and excessive amount of hiking comes muscle soreness and tightness, which can be wonderfully combatted by practicing yoga in awesome clothes like these that were gifted to me by Lucy!

While I, of course, would recommend a full hour of yoga practice daily (or weekly, however that may just be the yoga instructor in me) there are certain poses that are incredibly great for hikers, even if practiced for just a few breaths!